OTHER WORDS FOR bow
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Idioms about bow
Origin of bow
1First recorded before 900; Middle English verb bowen, Old English būgan; cognate with Dutch buigen, German biegen, Gothic biugan, Old Norse buga
synonym study for bow
1. See bend1.
OTHER WORDS FROM bow
bowedness, nounbow·ing·ly, adverbWORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH bow
bough, bowWords nearby bow
Other definitions for bow (2 of 4)
bow2
[ boh ]
/ boʊ /
noun
adjective
curved outward at the center; bent: bow legs.
verb (used with or without object)
Origin of bow
2First recorded before 1000; Middle English noun boue, bouwe, Old English boga; cognate with Dutch boog, German Bogen, Old Norse bogi; akin to bow1
OTHER WORDS FROM bow
bowedness, nounbowless, adjectivebowlike, adjectiveWORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH bow
bode, bowedOther definitions for bow (3 of 4)
bow3
[ bou ]
/ baʊ /
noun
Nautical, Aeronautics.
- the forward end of a vessel or airship.
- either side of this forward end, especially with reference to the direction of a distant object: a mooring two points off the port bow.
bows, Nautical. the exterior of the forward end of a vessel, especially one in which the hull slopes back on both sides of the stem.
the foremost oar in rowing a boat.
adjective
of or relating to the bow of a ship.
Origin of bow
3Other definitions for bow (4 of 4)
Bow
[ boh ]
/ boʊ /
noun
Clara, 1905–65, U.S. film actress: known as the “It Girl.”
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
How to use bow in a sentence
British Dictionary definitions for bow (1 of 4)
bow1
/ (baʊ) /
verb
noun
a lowering or inclination of the head or body as a mark of respect, greeting, or assent
take a bow to acknowledge or receive applause or praise
See also bow out
Word Origin for bow
Old English būgan, related to Old Norse bjūgr bent, Old High German biogan to bend, Dutch buigen
British Dictionary definitions for bow (2 of 4)
bow2
/ (bəʊ) /
noun
verb
to form or cause to form a curve or curves
to make strokes of a bow across (violin strings)
Word Origin for bow
Old English boga arch, bow; related to Old Norse bogi a bow, Old High German bogo, Old Irish bocc, and bow 1
British Dictionary definitions for bow (3 of 4)
bow3
/ (baʊ) /
noun
mainly nautical
- (often plural) the forward end or part of a vessel
- (as modifier)the bow mooring line
rowing short for bowman 2
on the port bow nautical within 45 degrees to the port of straight ahead
on the starboard bow nautical within 45 degrees to the starboard of straight ahead
a shot across someone's bows informal a warning
Word Origin for bow
C15: probably from Low German boog; related to Dutch boeg, Danish bov ship's bow, shoulder; see bough
British Dictionary definitions for bow (4 of 4)
Bow
/ (bəʊ) /
noun
Clara, known as the It Girl . 1905–65, US film actress, noted for her vivacity and sex appeal
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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Other Idioms and Phrases with bow
bow
The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.